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(No Model.)

J. M. INSKEEP. AUTOMATIC GAR GOUPLING. VNo. 601,567. Pa'eglted- Mar. 29,1898.

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NIZENTUR @QM/ @y 25715 ATTUHNEV LII UNITED -Srarns PATENT Orrick.,

JAMES M. INSKEEP, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO LOUISA INSKEEP.

AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,567, dated March 29, 1898.

Application filed June 25, 1897. `Serial No. 642.309. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. INSKEEP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to novel means for automatically coupling cars.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple, durable, and effective device for coupling cars whose draw-heads may be upon the same or different horizontal planes without endangering the lives and limbs of the trainmen, and particularly for coupling cars close together to prevent sudden jarring of the cars in starting a train.

t My invention consists in the parts and cornbination of parts shown in the drawings and hereinafter described, and pointed out in the i claims.

In the drawings, Figurel is a view of a pair of draw-heads coupled together by a link, showing the left-hand draw-head in side elevation and the right-hand draw-head in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a top view of the righthand draw-head and a horizontal section of the left-hand draw-head. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my double coupling-pin. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my improved heel-pin.

The draweheads A are preferably formed of wrought metal upon the forward ends of the draw-bars, which are secured to the cars in the usual manner. Each draw-head is provided with an opening, preferably flaring or hopper-shaped, to receive the coupling-link, the edges of the draw-head being preferably beveled to insure a more ready entrance of the link B during the operation of coupling.

Each draw-head is provided with a longitudinal slot or opening in the top, starting a short distance, preferably two or three inches, from the outer end and extending centrally therein toward the car, and upon each side of said slot are suitable lugs or bearings a, to which is pivotally mounted my double coupling-pin G. The bottom of each draw-head is provided with a recess or opening, preferably two or three inches from its forward end, to allow the coupling-pin to swing down in position for holding the couplin g-link and retaining it from coming out.

My double coupling-pin C is constructed of an L-pin and a straight pin loosely secured together and held in engagement by means yof suitable bands or collars c c2, preferably formed integral with the L-pin to receive the straight drop-pin c, which is held therein by lug c5, to which may also be attached the uncoupling mechanism. The coupling-pin is preferably pivoted to the bearings at the end of the L, so that the piu may be raised with a shorter sweep, thus allowing a shorter link (such as Ythe common link now in general use) to be used instead of making it longer, as would be necessary1 if a straight pin were ernployed. It is also pivoted at this point to cause the pin to drop through the link with greater force and remain in the recess in the bottom of the draw-head by force of gravity.

When the uncoupling mechanism is attached to lug c3, the coupling-pin may be drawn upwardly in the longitudinal slot to the position shown .by the dotted lines at the right hand of Fig. 1. It is desirable to limit the upward movement of the coupling-pin after it has passed above the top of the drawhead. This is done either by making the slot of suflicient length so that the free end of the coupling-pin will swing against the inner end of the slot-wall and limit its upward movement, or if the slot is Yextended beyond this point a suitable stop or staple o/ may be placed across the slot for that purpose. While it is desirable to have a stop for the pin to strike against and fall back into the link, it may, if desired, be entirely dispensed with without seriously affecting the successful working of my coupling.

Each draw-head is provided with a horizontal opening a short distance back of the coupling-pin adapted to receive my improved heel-pin D, which is so formed as not to turn axially when inserted in said opening, and is provided with a shoulder d, adapted Vwhen said pin is in position to take over the end of the coupling-link, as shown in Fig. 2,\to hold it in a substantially level plane. The heelpin is provided with a suitable handle for inserting it in and removing it from .the drawhead, and when not in position in the drawhead it may be allowed to hang upon a chain attached to the draw-bar. I have shown my heel-pin with a notch near one end adapted to receive a latch ce2, which automatically IOO ' heads.

clutches the end of the pin and holds it from coming out. The latch is pivoted at one endand supported from lateral movement by a suitable keeper a3 at its free end.

Any other suitable device for clutching and retaining the heel-pin, such as a split pin taking through a hole in the end of the pin, may, if desired, be employed; but I prefer the form shown, as it is automatic. It is only necessary to use the heel-pin -in the draw-head in which the link is secured before coupling; but provision is preferably made for inserting the heel-pin in either draw-head as may be most convenient or necessary if the drawheads are not upon the same horizontal planes.

The coupling-link B may be the common or ordinary link now in general use .or made in any other form adapted to enter the draw- If two cars having their draw-heads mounted in different horizontal planes are to be coupled together, they may readily be coupled by my invention by using the straight link if the difference is not more than three inches; butif the difference is more than three inches an S-link may be inserted in one drawhead and secured in place by the couplingpin and heel-pin. It is preferable to use my draw-head upon each car; but by having my draw-head upon one car it may be coupled to any other draw-head adapted to couple with the common coupling-link.

The operation of coupling by means of my invention is as follows: Insert one end of the link in one draw-head until the free end of the coupling-pin is forced upwardly above the link and far enough therein to permit the coupling-pin to drop by its own weight into the recess in the bottom of the draw-head. Then draw the link against the coupling-pin and insert the heel-pin, so that the shoulder d will take over one end of the link and hold its free end from dropping down below a horizontal plane. When the heel-pin is inserted as far as it will go, the latch will automatically drop into the notch near the end of the heel-pin and hold it from coming out until the latch is raised to permit its release. When the link has thus been secured in one drawhead, the cars may be bumped together, and in the operation of bumping the coupling-pin in the opposite draw-head will rise by the force of the link against it as the link enters the draw-head until the end of the link has passed the lower end of the L-pin, when it will drop by its own weight through the link, and the link will force the straight drop-'pin upwardly the thickness of the link and rest upon it, remaining in substantially this raised position until the link has passed beyond it and the L-pin gravitated to a vertical position, when the straight pin will again drop to the position shown at the right of Fig. l into the space between the end of the link and the L-pin, thereby forming a close coupling and obtaining it automatically. The draw-heads are so constructed that this coupling operation may occur upon a sharp curve as well upon a straight track, whether the draw-heads upon the two cars are upon the same or different levels.

Some of the advantages of my invention are simplicity and cheapness of construction, coupling the cars close together without jarring the passengers and thereby preventing sudden jarring of the cars in starting the train,durability and convenience in operation and use, and effectiveness and security for the purposes intended.

I claim- 1. A double coupling-pin comprising an L- shaped pin, adapted to be pivotally mounted on the top of the draw-head and extend downwardly through a slot in the top and recess in the bottom thereof and drop -pin, mounted in retaining collar or collars upon said L-pin whereby the space between the end of the link and L-pin is practically filled and a close coupling of the draw-head obtained, substantially as set forth.

2. Adouble coupling-pin comprising ahorizontal arm pivotally mounted in the top of the draw-head and vertical 'pin having retaining collar or collars carryinga drop-pin adapted to rise and fall a limited distance, said pins being adapted to take into openings into top and bottom in the draw-head and occupy space between the inner end wall of coupling-link and outer walls of said openings, whereby a close coupling of the link is secured, substantially as set forth.

3. A double coupling-pin comprising a ver- IOO tical pin, having an arm at right angles thereto pivotally mounted on the top of the pins adapted to take into and fill the space between the inner end wall of link and outer wall ofA bottom recess, and also adapted to be pushed entirely out of the draw-head opening by the force of Ithe link against, said pins at any point in the opening and thereby permit the link to freely enter the opening at any angle, substantially as set forth.

4. In an automatic car-coupling, a drawhead, bearing-lugs mounted thereon, a coupling-pin pivotally mounted in Said lugs and adapted to take into a slot in the top and recess in the bottom of said draw-head,.a stop to limit the upward movement of the coupling-pin, a coupling-link adapted to automatically engage with said pin, a removable heelpin adapted to be automatically secured in said draw-head and having a shoulder to hold said link in a substantially level plane,`

in combination with a suitable cooperating draw-head whereby two cars may be auto- IIO matically coupled together, substantially as set forth.

JAMES M. INSKEEP.

Witnesses: y

J AMES N. RAMsEY, J. ALPH. ScHEvER. 

